When many people hear the name Kobe, immediately the thought of Kobe beef comes to mind. This delicious and fatty beef is a delicacy the world over and comes from cows raised in and around Kobe. And there’s so much more to the up-and-coming cruise port of Kobe, Japan! Kobe is also the home of many other products used the world over. ASICS, the shoe manufacturer, is headquartered here, as is Mitsubishi Motors. Many other international companies have their Japanese headquarters in this city, including Eli Lilly, Nestle and Procter & Gamble. It’s the port that has attracted these major businesses and made Kobe the fifth largest city in Japan. When Japan opened its doors to the outside world, Kobe became a major entryway and has been influenced by the cultures of visiting nations. Even today the city is one of the most diverse in Japan, making cruises to Kobe ever popular.
- Learn about Japan’s popular drink, Sake, at the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, where you’ll have the chance to see the brewing process and partake in a free tasting afterwards.
- Visit the Himejo-Jo or Himeji Castle to see this stunning structure, originally built as a fortress in the year 1333.
- At Arima Onsen Kaikan you can indulge in the luxurious thermal waters of the Arima Onsen springs.
- For those with a sense of style, head to the Kobe Fashion Museum where you might find kabuki costumes or displays of clothes from famous fashion designers like Dior or Galliano.
- With a diverse population, Kobe is known for its history of multiculturalism, as well as for producing Kobe beef and brewing sake.
